In the wee hours last Monday morning, most folks in the USA grumbled as we lost an hour of sleep during the annual “spring forward” time change reminding me that we’re ever closer to the Spring Equinox on March 20. This Spring Cleaning Extravaganza’s intention was that we would welcome spring with a tidy, spotless, well-organized home and a light heart ready to embrace the season. Thus far our journey has made our windows and blinds sparkling and dust free, dust has been removed from every nook and cranny in our home, and our bedrooms have become beautiful, calm, clean, and relaxing havens. Next, we’ll tackle what is arguably the worst room in the house to clean – the bathroom. Our spring cleaning extravaganza continues with tips, tricks, and a checklist to help you make your bathroom sparkling clean.

Think happy thoughts trying to undermine the gag factor of bathroom cleaning, and assemble the usual suspects – aka cleaning supplies and products.

SUPPLIES 

Click the links to find the best product in each category. You’re welcome.

• Clean rags, paper towels, and/or sponge
• Rubber gloves (optional, but let’s protect that manicure!)
• Stiff bristled brush
• Glass cleaner
• Bathroom Cleaner
• Toilet brush + toilet bowl cleaner
• Swiffer with dry and wet pads
• Clean Magic Eraser
• Multi-purpose cleaning spray (or mix baking soda + water to DIY cleaning solution)
• Squeegee
• Rain-X
• A basket for decluttering
• Vacuum

PROCESS

Clean The Slate

• Remove everything from the bathroom counter, shelves, ledges, back of the toilet and place in a basket. Place the basket outside the bathroom.
• Remove any bath mats and/or bath rugs, the shower curtain and its liner, and all towels. Launder as per manufacturer’s instructions.
• Move the trashcan, scale, and anything else that sits on the floor.

Dust Top to Bottom

• Dust vents with a dry rag, or vacuum cleaner detachment (a compressed air cleaner really gets in there).
• Wipe off all ledges, windowsills, and shelves with a dry rag.
• Dust light fixture covers and the shower curtain rod.

Wipe It Down

• Wipe all bathroom surfaces with a wet, soapy sponge or spray multi-purpose cleaner on the below items, let sit for a minute, and then wipe residue with a clean, wet sponge or paper towel:
  • Vents (careful not to get vent interior wet)
  • Sink bowl and faucets
  • Walls
  • Light switches
  • Countertops (don’t forget the underside of ledges)
  • Showerhead, faucets (don’t forget the aerator – where the water comes out), and handles
  • Shelves
  • Toilet base, back, seat. handle (now is a good time to tighten base and seat bolts if loose)

Scrub The Gunk

• Use a bleach/water combo (¾ cup bleach to a gallon of water), disinfectant spray, or DIY baking soda solution on your tile and grout shower walls and/or shower floor to scrub away any visible mildew, mold, or discoloration. TIP: remove water from the wall tile and tub with a squeegee after every shower and leave your shower curtain open until the tub area is dry. This will help to prevent the grown of mold and mildew. Move tips for cleaning your shower are here! Detailed tips for keeping grout and tile clean are here.
• Wipe your porcelain tub with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath. It works great on hard soap scum.
• Use a wet soapy sponge to wipe down shower curtain rod and rings.
• Using multi-purpose cleaner or DIY baking soda scrub, thoroughly scrub sink bowl, drain, and faucet.
• Use your bristle brush with bathroom cleaner to scrub the shower head. Be sure to scrub the aerator where the water sprays out. See tips for descaling below in the Miscellaneous section.
• Scrub toilet bowl, seat, and area around the bolts with bowl. TIP: to prevent an accumulation of liquid in your brush holder, let the brush hang over the bowl with the seat closed until dry.

Shine

• Using glass cleaner and paper towels to clean and shine all windows, mirrors, glass surfaces, light fixture covers, cabinet handles, doorknobs, and hinges.
• Spray inside and outside of shower doors with glass cleaner and wipe clean with a squeegee.

Floor & Baseboards

• Use a Swiffer dry or a vacuum to collect all loose hair and dust from the floor.
• Wipe down baseboards (a used dryer sheet works great on this job!)
• Remove the floor vent and vacuum both sides of the vent along with the airway below.
• Wipe the doorstop.
• Wet mop the floor with a Swiffer Wet or mop, then let dry.

Sanitize

• Spray disinfectant such as Microban 24 Bathroom Cleaner on hard, non-porous surfaces like you countertop, shower stall, bathtub, toilet exterior, sink basin, faucets, handles, and doorknobs.

Miscellaneous

• Unclog the drains, if necessary. A monthly treatment with white vinegar and baking soda keeps drains clear. Simply sprinkle about 1/2 cup of baking soda in your tub and/or sink drain, then pour a cup or two of white vinegar on the baking soda. This will cause a bubbling reaction (which your kids will love) and will clear a slow drain. Rinse with hot water.
• Wash the toilet brush and its holder in hot, soapy water.
• Empty the medicine cabinet (if you’re lucky enough to have one) and discard expired medications and cosmetics.
• Restock the hand soap.
• Throw your toothbrush caddy and soap dish in the dishwasher.
• Clean makeup brushes.
• Descale the showerhead
  • If your metal showerhead is clogged with scaly mineral deposits, place it in a pot with a solution of one part vinegar to eight parts water, bring it to a boil, and simmer for 15 minutes. If you don’t want to take the shower head down, or if the shower head is plastic, fill a zipper bag with a solution of equal parts vinegar and hot water, tie it around the showerhead and soak.
• Clean and organize drawers and cabinet under the sink.
  • Toss out expired sunscreen and old cosmetics
  • Vacuum wipe it clean with a damp cloth
  • Treat yourself to inexpensive trays or bins to help keep these spaces tidy.
• Clean the filter on your hair dryer
• Apply Rain-X to shower doors
• Clean your toothbrush holder
  • If dishwasher-safe, just pop it in with a load of your dishes, or hand-wash it with hot soapy water, rinse, and wipe it with a disinfecting wipe.

Whew! We did it!! Now comes the easy part. Put out fresh soap, towels, and rugs; rehang the shower curtain and its liner. Place all your personal grooming tools back in their designated spots, and redecorate the room with the pretty things you love on shelves and counters. Don your sunglasses because the glare of your sparkling clean bathroom will be blinding.  LOL.